Dish and plate support for shelves



Oct. 12, 1943. 1 H. D.NOEL 2,331,792

DISH AND PLATE SUPPORI FOR SHELVES Filed Feb. 3. 1945 FIG..{. I

INVENTOR.

HENRY 0. N054 Patented Oct. 12, 1943 r I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,331,792 i msn AND PLATE SUPPORT FOR SHELVES Henry 1). Noel, New York, N. Y. Application February a, 1943, Serial No. 474,541 3 Claims. (c1. 211-41 This invention relates to improvements in article supports and more specifically to a dish and plate support device for shelves.

The primary object of the invention resides in a support device which may be attached to the shelf of a show-case, cabinet, corner cupboard, or the like, to support a dish or plate in an upstanding display position.

Some of the important features of the invention are to provide a simple and inexpensive support device which may be easily applied in a fixed position upon a shelf; which support device when in use will securely hold the dish or plate on edge in a firm position'against accidental slipping or rolling; and which device may be made of metal or plastic in various colors to match the shelf or dishes and plates so as to be less conspicuous when in use.

Other novel features of the invention will become apparent as the following specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a shelf cabinet or the like illustrating the support device in position upon the shelf and supporting a plate in upstanding position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the support device per se.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the support device.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, illustrating the device in an attached position upon a shelf.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters the numeral l0 designates the dish and plate support device in its entirety which is substantially T-shape in plan. The device Ill may be made of metal, Celluloid, plastic, or other rigid material and may be formed by molding or stamping and bending. The device It] includes a fiat stubby shank portion 1 i and an integral cross head portion 12. The cross head portion [2 has a fiat under surface which is coextensive with the plane of the under surface of the shank portion H. The upper surface of the head is concave in a lengthwise direction as at I3, the curvature of the concave surface being on a relatively large arc, thus the cross head portion. I2 is thickest at its ends and narrowest at its mid-portion. Integral with the outer edge of the head portion I2 is an upwardly extending fiat lip 14 which is perpendicular to the underside of the head portion. The top edge of the lip I4 is convexly curved in a lengthwise direction, the ends thereof meeting the top end edges of the concave surface. The lip l4 and concave surface [3 cooperate to provide a plate or dish receiving corner'l5.

The shank portion ll adjacent its free end is provided with a tack hole l6.

In Figure 1 of the drawing, I have illustrated the support device Ill in use upon a wooden shelf S of a show-case, cabinet, or other shelf structure having a vertical rear wall A. The device It) is flatly placed upon the shelf at a proper distance from the rear Wall A depending upon the size of plate or dish to be supported on edge in an inclined display position. The free end of the shank l l faces rearwardly and when the device is properly placed, a tack or thumb tack T is inserted through the hole l6 and driven or pushed into the shelf S, whereupon the device is securely anchored against shifting movement. A plate P is shown with its edge seated in the corner l5, and with its upper portion resting against the wall A. Thus the plate P is artistically supported in an upright rearwardly inclined position and is prevented from slipping forwardly by the lip l4 and from accidentally rolling sidewise by reason of the concave surface I3. Any number of the devices It! may be placed along a shelf to individually support a set of plates at substantially the same angle of inclination regardless of the diameters of the plates. As previously mentioned, the device I0 is to be fixed at a predetermined distance from the rear wall A against which it rests and which spacing controls the angle at which the plate is supported. The device l0 may be made in various sizes if desired and may be colored or decorated to blend with the dishes and plates, or with the color of the shelf on which they are to be used.

It will be noted that the device It includes a substantially T-shaped member in which the cross head serves to receive the curved edge of a plate while in edge standing position and the tail or shank portion provides a means of attachment or anchorage. The tack holes are located remote from the lip to avoid striking of f the lip or head portion when driving a tack therethrough. By employing tacks as fastening elements in lieu of screws, the likelihood of serious marring of a shelf is avoided. Also, tacks may be hammered by those persons unskilled in mechanics and they may easily be removed for removal of the device from the shelf for replacement or for transfer from one shelf to another.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the most practical embodiment of myv invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes in material, construction and design as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A dish and plate support device for attachment to ashelf comprising a rigidelongatedbody having a'flat undersurface, the upper-surface of the body being concave in a lengthwise direction, an upstanding lip integral with the front of the body extending lengthwise thereof, and

means to facilitate the attachment of the body to a shelf.

2. A dish and plate support device for attachment to a shelf comprisingarigid :substantially T-shaped body having a flat shank portioneand an elongated cross head portion, the head portion 20 means to facilitate the attachment of the shank portion to a shelf.

3. A dish and plate support device for attachment to a shelf comprising a substantially T- shapedib dyvhaving aflatshank portion and an 'elongat dhead portion-integral with the front end of the shank portion, said head portion having a flat under surface, a concave seat provided in the upper surface of the head portion extenddnglengthwiselthereof, and a lip integral with .the front longitudinal edge of the head portion,

said shank portion having a hole therein for the passagezofa fastening element to facilitate the attachment of the device to a shelf.

HENRY D. NOEL. 

